The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-29

Il
she had mndc n bargain with her lover that
the usual amenities of courtship were to he
dispensed with. There wcro to be no cmbrao-
ings or other tender passages, she was not
even to be forced to call him James "Janosl"
how she dctosted the name Thus did tho
wretchod girl try N put oH the evil day,
much as the ostrich is supposed to hide her
head In u bush and indulge in dreams Of
foncied security. Mr. Plowden did not object,
he was too wary hunter 10 do 80 While
his stately prey was there with her head in
the thickcst Of the bush he was sure Of her.
She would never wake from her foolish
dreams till tlo ripe moment came 10 deliver
the fatal blow, and oil would he over But
If, on the contrary, he startled her now, she
might take flight more swiftly than lie could
follow, and leave him alone ia the desert.
SO when Eva made her lttle stipulations,
he acquiescei In them after only Just 50 much
besitation as he thought would scein love like.
"Life, Eva" he said scntentiously. "is a com
promise. yield 10 your wishes" But in his
heart he thought that time would come
when she would have to yield 10 his, and his
cold eye CLEANED Eva saw the CLEAN, and
shuddered prophetically
The Rev. Nj. Plowlcn did not suffer much
distress at the GOODNESS with which he was
treated He knew that his day would come
and was content 10 wait for ii like n wise
| man. He was not Ia love with Eva. nature
like his is scarcely capable Of any such feel
lug as that, fa instance, which Eva and
| Ernest bore to each other. Tiue Love.
| crowned with immortality, wells bis shining
face from such men as Mr. Plowdcn. lie was
fascinated by her beauty, ,.that was all But
l. his cunning was of a superior order. and he
was quite content 20 wait SO he contrived
to extract letter from Eva, in which she
talked of ''our engagement and alluded to
"our forthcoming marriage and waited
And thus Che time went on all too quickly
for Eva. She was quite miserable, but she
was not actually unhappy. That was yet to
| come with other evil things. Christmas came
and went, the spring came too, and with the
daffodils and violets came Ernests letter
Eva was down the first one morning, and
was engaged in making the tea in the Cottage
| dining room when that modern minister 20
the DEGREES of fate, the postman, brought the
letter. She recognized the writing in a mo-
ment, and the tea caddy fell with crash on
to the floor. Selling it, she tore open the
sealed envelope and read it swiftly. Oh,
what wave OF love surged up in her heart
| us she read! Pressing the senseless paper TO
her lips, she kissed it again and again.
"0h, Ernestw she murmured. 80 my love.
my darhng."
Just then Florence came down, looking
cool and composed, and giving that idea Of
| quiet strength which is the natural attribute
| of some women.
| Eva pushed The letter into her bosom
What is the matter, Evar she said,
| quietly, noting her flushed face, and why
| have you upset the tear
"Matterh she answered, laughing happily
she had not laughed SO for months: aoh,
| nothing-I have heard from Ernest that IS
| all"
"Indeedm answered her sister, with a
troubled smile on her dark face; "and what
has our runaway to say for himselfT
"Say oh, he has great deal to say, and l
have something to gay too. am going to
marry him."
"Indeed! And Mr. Plowdenm
Eva turned pale.
'Mr. Plowden! I have done with Mr..
| Plowtien.n
"Indecd!' said Florence again; ''really this
quite romantic. But please pick up that
| tea. Whomevcr you marry, let us have some
| breakfast i'll the meanwhile. Excuse me for
one moment, have forgotten my handlSer-
| chief
Eva did Us she was bid, and made the ten
| after n fashion
Meanwhile Florence went to her room and
| scrbbled n note, inclosed 1t in an envelope and
rang the bell
The servant answered.
Tell John 20 take this to Mr.. Plowden's
| lodgings at once, and If he should be out fol-
low him till he finds him and deliver it
Ten minutes later Mr. Plowden got the fol-
| lowing note:
"Come here at once Eva has heard from
| Ernest kershaw, and announces her intention
| of throwing YOU over and marrying him Re
! prepared for struggle, but do not show that
| You have Leard from me. You must find
| means to hold yOur own Rur,, tbis
Mr.. Fowden whistlcd as he laid the paper
| down. Going to his desk he unlocked it and
| extracted letter he had received from Eva.
In which she acknowledged her engagement
to him, and then seizng his hat walked swift
| ly toward the cottage
Meanwhile Florence made her way down.
STAIRS again, saying to herself as she went;
"An unlucky chance. If had seen the letter
first, would have burned It. But we snail
win yet She has not the stamina 70 stand
out against that man."
AS soon as she reached the dining room.
Eva began to say something more about her
letter, but her sister stopped her quickly.
Let me have my breakfast in peace, Eva.
We will talk of the letter afterwnrd lie
does not interest me- your Ernest, and it
takes away my appetite to talk business at
| meals"
Eva ceased and sat silent, breakfast had no
charms for her that morning
Presently there was knock at the door,
and Mr. Plowden entered with a smile of
forced gayety ON his face.
"How do you, Florence" he said; chow do
| you do, dear Eval You see have come to
see you early this morning. l want little
| refreshinent to enable me to get through my
days duty The early suitor has come to pick
upth worm Of his affections" and he laughed
| at his joke
Florence shuddered at the simile, and
| thought to herself that there was fair
chance of the affectionate worm dsagreeing
with the early suitor.
Eva said nothing. She sat quite still and
pale.
|, why, what is the matter with you, Have
you seen n ghostp
"Not exactly; but think that Eva has re-
| ceived message from the dead," said Flor
| ence, with II nervous laugh.
Eva rose, II think, Mr. Plowden," she
said, that | had better be frank with you
at once ask you to liston to me for a few
| moments"
"Am l not always ut your service, dear
| Evai'
al wish" began Eva, and broke down-"I
wish she went on again, TO appeal TO your
| generosity and 10 your feelings as gentle
man"
|
Mr.. Plowden bowed with mock humility
| and smiled too-a very ugly smile.
"You are aware that, before l became
engaged TO you, | had had "a previous
affair."
with the boy who committed MURDER
| put in Mr.. Plowden
| with u gentleman who had the mis-
fortune to kill man in duel" exclaimed
| Eva.
"The church and the law call it muir
| der"
Excuse me- Mr. Plowden, we are dealing
neither with the church nor the law; we are
dealing with the thing as it is called among
gentlemen and ladies'
$50 on" said Mr., Plowden.
We'll, Misunderstanding, which ! need
not now enter into, arose with reference 10
that affair, though, as | told you, ! loved the
man. To-day | have heard from him. and
his letter puts everything straight in my
mind, and see how wrong and unjust has
been my behavior 10 him. and know that
love him more than ever
Curse the fellows impudencelH said the
clergyman furioIsly; "if he were here,
would give him bit Of my mind"
Eva's spirit rose, and she turned on him
with flashing eyes, looking like a queen in
her Imperial beauty.
h.,N n